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Smart meters help save energy and make meter reading automatic - and you'll have one in your home by 2020...
Electricity and gas meters are changing. By 2020, every UK home will use the new smart meters.
Smart meters help you keep track of the energy you use, and cut out the need for meter readings. But how do they work and what do they do? And when will they be available? We answer your smart meter questions.
Smart meters are the next generation of gas and electricity meters. They collect information about your energy use electronically.
The benefits of a smart meter:
In October 2008, the government announced that every UK home will use smart meters by 2020.
Around 26 million homes will be fitted with smart meters over the next 10 years.
Many other countries have started using smart meters - but the UK will be the first to roll them out on such a large scale.
By showing you how much energy you use, smart meters help you cut down waste.
You can see instantly when you're using lots of energy - and how much it's costing you.
It's easy to identify ways you could make savings - and with every household using smart meters, those savings will really add up.
Smart meters have been trialed in countries ranging from Sweden to the US. These trials have shown that smart meters can reduce household energy bills by 5-10 per cent.
Find ways to cut your energy bills today
As of November 2008, energy companies and the government are still settling the details of the scheme. It may be a year or more before the first smart meters are installed.
In the meantime, see how you can save energy around your home
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